Foren Munda in his room on Tuesday. (Anirban Choudhury)

Alipurduar, Oct. 21: The administration today promised to treat a 27-year-old youth who had been chained up in a room for more than four years because of his violent behaviour.

Foren Munda, a resident of Thumapara in Shalkumar gram panchayat of Falakata block, developed infection on the ankles after being fettered for so many years. Munda, the father of a five-year-old boy had been initially taken to Cooch Behar district hospital and North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for treatment, but shortage of money forced his family to stop the medication and chain him to one of the legs of a bed.

Today, Falakata block development officer Krishna Kanto Ghosh and Samir Ghosh, a physician at Falakata Rural Hospital, visited Foren and talked to his father. The authorities also handed over 60kg of rice and clothes to the poor family and offered to extend more help if needed.

The youth’s father, Lachhu Munda, said Foren had showed signs of mental ailment when he had gone to bathe in a stream near the house five years back. “Suddenly, he started speaking in riddles. I took him to the Cooch Behar district hospital and NBMCH for treatment. As medicines were so costly, I couldn’t continue the treatment. Foren used to become violent and would beat and bite anyone he came across,” said Lachhu.

Foren’s wife had left him because of his violent traits.

“Foren was the sole earning member of the family. He would break furniture also and we were forced to chain him in a single room adjacent to our house. We approached many persons for financial help, but to no avail. Foren’s room always remains locked so that he cannot come outside. Food is given to him but he does not take it always. He always looks up and talks little,” said the father.

Lachhu said Foren used to cultivate crops on the land owned by the family.

Thumapara is 52km from Falakata.

The BDO and the doctor spent an hour at the Mundas’ house. They went inside the room where Foren was chained and talked to him.

After going through the prescriptions, doctor Samir suggested that a psychiatrist be consulted for Foren’s treatment. The BDO Krishna Kanto immediately contacted Biswajit Banerjee, the superintendent of Tufanganj Mental Hospital. “I had come to know about Foren from villagers yesterday evening and decided to visit him immediately. I contacted Samir Ghosh, the doctor of Falakata hospital, and asked him to come with me. The superintendent of Tufanganj Mental Hospital told me that he would visit Foren’s house on October 25 and necessary treatment will be started. If the doctor advises that Foren be shifted to hospital, that will be done. The government will bear the cost of the treatment,” said the BDO.

Krishna Kanto didn’t give a direct reply when asked if action would be taken for keeping Foren in chains. “Foren’s father is very poor and he didn’t have the intention of harming his father. The youth was put in chains as he turns violent and there were complaints from neighbours regarding this,” said the BDO.

“The Mundas were given 60kg of rice and clothes. If they need more help, they can approach us,” he added.